Combined clamping and punching apparatus



L. BEEBEE COMBINED CLAMPING AND PUNCHING APPARATUS July 22 1958 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 50. 1954 VIII. 1i

INVENTOR, LAWRENCE BEEBEE.

HUEBNER. BEEHLER, WORREL 6 HERZIG. W ATTORNEZIS.

July 22, 1958 L. BEEBEE COMBINED CLAMPING AND PUNCHING APPARATUS Filed Sept. 30. 1954 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVEN TOR, LAWRENCE BEEBEE.

HUEBNER, BEEHLER, WORREL 8 HERZIG.

1 ATTORNEYS.

, July 22, 1958 -L.'BEEBEE' COMBINED CLAMPING AND PUNCHING APPARATUS 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Sept. 30. 1954 Q 7 Q N E ms mm m2 E EMN w J m m ma N BR m Wm

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United States Patent 2,844,204 I COMBINED CLAMPING AND PUNCHING APPARATUS Lawrence Beebee, Manhattan Beach, Calif assignor to Deeco, Inc., Huntington Park, Califi, a corporation of California Application September 30, 1954, Serial No. 459,238

1 Claim. Cl. 164-90) This invention relates a combined clamping and hole forming apparatus and is designed particularly to simultaneously clamp an object and form a plurality of openings therein. I v

In order to illustrate the construction and mode of operation of my invention, 1. will describe it as utilized to simultaneously clamp and form a plurality of openings in the frame of a piece of tubular furniture, said frame being constituted by an elongated, continuous, preformed piece of hollow tubing of cylindrical cross section. Although I will describe my invention as utilized in the aforesaid environment, it is .not intended tolimit the-application of the invention to any particular type of article since the apparatus of my invention can be applied to a large number of diiferent'types of structures.

It' has been customary, in prior art devices, to form the openings intubular'frames of the character under consideration by drilling or punching. The conventional procedure has entailed the drilling or punching'of the openings in the frame in a seriatim fashion which is both a time-consuming and relatively ineificient procedure. Furthermore, when the openings are punched in the unsupported tubing, dimples and depressions are formed in-the periphery thereof about the openings, thus materially marring the appearance of the frame and resulting in the rejection of the frameif a large number of dimples or depressions are formed therein. I 1

It is therefore, an objectof my inventionto provide an apparatus which will "support a tubular furniture frame of the aforementioned character and which includes a plurality of clamping means designed to encompass the periphery of the tubular frame at spaced points adjacent locations Where openings are to be formed in the wall of the tubular frame, said apparatus also-including hole forming means associated with's'aid clamping means-for simultaneously forming all offthe necessary 'openings in the wall of the tubing constituting the furniture frame while the tubing is supported inthe aforesaid clamping means to eliminate the possibility of the. formation of unsightly dimples or depressions therein, particularly of excessive or weakening size.

An additional object of my invention is the provision, in an apparatus of the aforementioned character, of a frame which includes a supporting member mounting the aforesaid clamping means in a pattern which closely approximates the configuration of the preformed tubular furniture frame so that the clamping means may readily engage the periphery of the aforesaid tubular furniture frame at spaced points along the length thereof.

An additional object ofmy invention is theprovision, in an apparatus of the aforementioned character, ofaplurality of clamping means, said clamping means being constitutedby a movable and a fixed clamping member, the movable clamping member being operableby 'afmo'tor associated therewith to engage the periphery of an object disposed on the fixed clamping member.

A further object of myinvention is the provision, in

an a'pparatus of thetaforementioned characteigof a plu- Patented July 22, 1958 rality of clamping means incorporating-motor actuated movable clamping members, said motor actuated movable clamping members being energized from a common source of power to cause them to move simultaneously iinte engagement with the periphery of an object "located on fixed clamping members associated therewith." I

An additional object of my invention is the provisioned a clamping and hole forming apparatus which is constituted by a plurality of clamping means arrangedin asymmetrical patternon a supportingframe, said symmetrical 7 pattern conforming substantially'to the over-all shape-of I an elongated object deposited insaid clamping'means, said clamping means having mounted thereupon hole forming means for forming an opening in the wall ofthe obiect v been engaged by the aforesaid clampforming means for forming a hole in the wall ofan object after the object has been engaged between the movable and fixed clamping members. i

An additional objectof my invention is the provision,

in an apparatus of the aforementionedcharacter, of a movable clamping member which is movable by the mounting means into engagementwith the'wall ofan object and which is providedwith an opening ther'ein'to permit the passagev therethrough of holefor'tr'iiiig means for formingahole in said Wall. i A

A further object of my invention is the provision, in an apparatus of the aforementioned character, of a movable clampingmember which is slidably mounted on the aforesaid mounting means topermitrelative-movement between the mounting means and the movable clamping member subsequently to the impingement of the movable clamping member upon the periphery of an object to permit hole forming means to be driven into the wallof the object. v j 7 Other objects and advantages of my inyentionwfll be apparent from the following specification and the accompanying drawings which are for the purpose ofillust-ratioh only and in which: Y 1

Fig. 1 is a side elevationaLview of a combined clamping and hole forming apparatusconstructed in accordance with my invention; i 1 Fig.2 is a top plan view thereof; 7 V j Fig. 3 is a vertical, partly sectional'view taken on the broken line 3-3 of Fig. 4; i i i Fig. 4 is a plan view of a clamping means constructed in accordance with the teachings of my invention;

Fig. 5 is 'a longitudinal sectional view of a clampingand punching member of modified construction and adapted and l I Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken on the line 66 of Figure 5.

Referring to the drawings, and particularly to Figs. 1 and 2 thereof, I show a combined clampingand hole forming apparatus 10 constructed in accordance with my invention and including a supporting framelZ, said frame incorporating vertical uprights 15 and 17 maintained in operative relation by transverse stiifeners 19 *which in turn, support horizontal supporting arms .21.

Disposed between and havingtheir opposite ,endssupported on the horizontal supporting arms 21 are elongated supporting members 23, said supporting members being shaped to conform substantially to the longitudinal configuration of a tubular furnitureframe 28 disposed to be used in the framework illustrated in Figures'l and 2;

ber23, asbest shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings.

I on apparatus The tubing constituting the tubular furniture frame 28 is formed from relatively light gauge metal so that the formation therein of openings 29, as best shown in Fig.4 of the drawings, poses serious difficulty 7 when conventional apparatus ormethods are utilized since,

10 in a pattern conforming closely to the configuration of the supporting members 23 and the longitudinal configuration of the tubular furniture frame 28 are first and second banks 32 and 34 respectively of clamping means 36 of my invention. It will be noted that, as best shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings, the clamping means 36 can be located on the supporting members 23 in spaced or abutting relationship so that the openings in the wall of the elongatedtubing constituting the tubular furniture frame may be formed therein in any. predetermined pattern. Such clamping means can also collectively bend the tube 28 in any desired shape conforming, for example, to any bend in the supporting members 23, as shown in Fig. 2,

such shaping and bending occurring when the clamp means closes on the tube, which, when first placed in the frame with the clamps fully extended, can be straight. Each of the clamping means 36 includes a bed plate 37, said bed plate being securable by appropriate means to the upper surface of an associated supporting mem- Secured to.oneend of the bed plate 37, is an end plate 39 which constitutes a portion of a hydraulic cylinder assembly 40, said hydraulic cylinder assembly serving as the motor means 41 of the clamping means 36 which energizes the various components of the clamping means.

The hydraulic cylinder assembly includes, in addition to the end plate 39, a second end plate 43 which is located in spaced relation therewith to support the cylindrical housing 45 of the assembly 40, the opposite ends of said cylindrical housing being located in annular recesses 47 and 49 provided, respectively, in the end plates 43 and 39. Studs 51 are secured at their lowermost ends, as best shown in Figs. 3 and 4 of the drawings, in the end plate 39 and extend upwardly therefrom through openings 53 in the second end plate, 43 to maintain the end plates 39 and 43 in operative engagement with each other and to secure the cylinder housing 45 in the recesses 47 and 49 in the end plates 43 and 39 respectively. Nuts 55 are provided on the uppermost ends of the studs 51 which urge the second end plate 43 downwardly into engagement with the cylindrical housing 45.

An inlet line 57 is provided for pressure fluid and is connected to an inlet port 59 located centrally of the second end plate 43 so that hydraulic fluid, under pressure,

may be fed into the upper end of the cylindrical housing 45. An outlet line 61 is connected to an outlet port 63 in the end plate 39 which constitutes the base of the hy- I draulic cylinder assembly 40 so that fluid expelled from the housing 45 may be exhausted through the line 61.

Located in the cylindrical housing 45 is a piston 65,

said piston having integrally formed therewith a piston 3 rod 67 which is reciprocable in the cylindrical housing 45 and has its lowermost end extending from the cylindrical hous1ng 45 through a centrally located opening 69 in the end plate 39, leakage between the periphery of the piston 'rod' '67 and the wallof the opening 69 being prevented by sealing means 71 located in the wall of the opening 69.

' Mounting means 74 constituted by a substantially rec- 'tangular block 75 is secured to the lowermost end of "th'ep'iston rod 67, themeans of securement therebetween fbeing constituted by a cylindrical threaded recess 77 in the upper end of the block 75 which receives a threaded plug 79 on the lowermost end of the piston rod 67. Therefore, when the piston rod 67 is extended from the cylindrical housing 45 by the action of hydraulic fluid on the upper surface of the piston 65, the retainer block 75 constituting the mounting means 74 is urged downwardly in sliding engagement with the surface of the bed plate 37 of the clamping means 36. Secured to the mounting means 74 adjacent the lowermost end thereof is a movable clamping member 80, said movable clamping member being constituted by an elongated, rectangular block 81 having a cavity 83 formed in the underside thereof which conforms to the configuration of the upper half of the periphery of the tubular furniture frame 28, as best shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings.

A pair of mounting bolts 85 is provided in the mounting means 74, the heads of said bolts being located in spaced recesses 87 in the upper end of the block 75 constituting the mounting means 74 and the shanks of said bolts extending downwardly through elongated bores 89 in the block 75 into threaded engagement, as at 91 with the movable clamping member 80. Compression springs 93 located in the bores 89 have their upper ends seated on the ends of said bores and their lowermost ends seated on the upper surface of the movable clamping member 80, as best shown in Figs- 3 and 4 of the drawings. Therefore, the compression springs 93 normally urge the movable clamping member 80 downwardly into spaced relationship with the underside of the mounting means 74, as best shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings, for a purpose which will be described in greater detail below.

A centrally located bore 97 is provided in the mounting means 74, said bore being adapted to receive the upper portion of a punch 98 whose lower portion 99 extends through a centrally located opening 101 in the movable clamping member 80, as best shown in Figs. 3 and 4 of the drawings. A set screw 103 retains the punch 98 against inadvertent dislocation from the bore 97 by engaging the upper portion of the punch 98 located in said bore.

Secured to the lowermost end of the bed plate 37 by means of bolts 105 is a mounting block 106, said block having a fixed clamping member 108 secured to the upper end thereof by means of bolts 109. It will be noted that the fixed clamping member 108 has a cavity 111 formed in the upper surface thereof which conforms substantially to the configuration of the lower half of the periphery of the tubing constituting the tubular furniture frame 28 and that the movable clamping member 80 and the fixed clamping member 108 will cooperate, as best shown in Fig. 4 of the drawings, to encompass the periphery of the tubular furniture frame 28 to support the same during the formation of a hole 29 therein, as best shown in Fig. 4 of the drawings.

The motor means 41 associated with each of the clamping means 36 are designed to be actuated in unison to cause simultaneous movement of the movable clamping members 80 of the clamping means into engagement with the periphery of the tubular furniture frame 28 at spaced points along the length thereof. To accomplish the aforesaid simultaneous energization of the motor means 41, a centrally located control valve 114 is provided on the frame 12. Connected to a port in one side of the housing of the valve 114 is an inlet conduit 115 for hydraulic fluid, said inlet conduit communicating, as best shown in Fig. l of the drawings, with a port 116 in a rotatable valve plug 118. Hydraulic fluid under pressure passes through the port 116 into an inlet conduit 117 and from said inlet conduit into inlet manifolds 121 whence it is conducted through the inlet lines of the drawings, the elongated piston rod 67 will be extended from the cylindrical housing 45 into the position shown in Fig. 4 of the drawings to cause concomitant downward movement of the movable clamping member 80 'into engagement with the periphery of the upper portion .of .the tubular furniture frame 28, as best shown in Fig. 4 of the drawings.

The outlet lines :61 from the lower portion of the cylindn'cal housing 45 are connected to outlet manifolds 123, said manifolds, in turn, being connected to an outlet conduit 125 which communicates with the valve housing and a port .126 in the plug 118 to carry hydraulic fluid from the ends of the cylindrical housings 45 to an outlet conduit 127.

It is obvious that the valve 114 controls both the in gross of fluid into the housings 45 of .all of the clamping means 36 and the egress of fluidtherefrom so that simultaneous movement .of the component portions of the clamping means will occur. Therefore, when the valve plug 118 is located in the position shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings, the movable clamping members 80 will be moved downwardly into engagement with the periphery of the tubular furniture frame 28. However, when the valve plug 118 is rotated into a position in which the port 116 interconnects the outlet conduits 117 and 127 and the port 126 interconnects the inlet conduits 115 and 125, fluid under pressure is fed from the inlet conduit 115 through the port 126 and thence through the conduit 125 and thetmanifolds 123 to cause the upward movement of the pistons 65 in the interior of the cylindrical housings 45 and thus to retract the elongated piston rods 67 thereinto to move the movable clamping members 80 out of engagement with the tubular furniture frame 28.

Simultaneously, fluid is discharged from the upper end of each of the cylindrical housings 45 of the clamping means 36 into the manifolds 121, 117 and thence through the port 116 into the outlet conduit 127. It is obvious, therefore, that the mere rotation of the valve plug 118 will cause the simultaneous movement of the clamping member 80 toward or away from the periphery of the tubular furniture frame 28.

The operation of the combined clamp and hole' form ing apparatus is as follows: I

A tubular furniture frame, or other similar object is located on the fixed clamping members 108 of the clamping .means 36 and is maintained in operative relationship therewith by gravity. The valve plug 118 is then rotated into the position shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings to cause pressure fluid to flow simultaneously into the ends of the cylindrical housing 45 of the hydraulic cylinder assemblies 40 above the pistons 65 thereof and to initiate downward movement of the pistons 65 to accomplish the extension .of the piston rods 67 from the cylindrical housings 45.

The extension of the piston rods 67 causes simultaneous movement of the mounting means 74 and the movable clamping members 80 supported thereupon, saidclamping members thus being carried downwardly into engagement with the peripheries of portions of the tubular furniture frame in which openings29 are to be formed. A

When the cavities 83 in the movable clamping members 80 engage the tubular furniture frame 28, as best shown in Fig. 4 of the drawings, relative movement is initiated between the mounting means 74 and the movable clamping members 80 to cause relative movement between the punches. 98 and the movable clamping members 80 to drive the punches 98 downwardly through the openings 101 in the movable clamping members 80 to form openings 29 in the wall of the tubular furniture frame 28.

Since the tubular furniture frame 28 is supported by the movable and fixed clamping members 80 and 108, respectively, immediately adjacent the points at which the openings 29 are punched into thewall of the tubular furniture frame 28, the formation of dimples or depressions in the wall of the tubular furniture frame is minimized for this punch type of operation.

Furthermore, a large number of spaced openings is simultaneously formed in the tubular furniture frame 28in a one-pass operation, thus eliminating the necessity for excessive handling of the tubular furniture frame 28 and the high labor costs incidental thereto.

After the openings 29 have been formed in the tubular furniture frame, 28, the valve plug 118 isrotated to cause pressure fluid to flow through the ports 63 into the interiors of the cylindrical housings 45 below the pistons 65 to retract the piston rods .67 into the cylindrical housing 45 and withdraw the punches 98 from engagement with the openings 29 and the movable clamping members from engagement with the periphery of the tubular furniture frame 28.

I thus provide by my invention .a combined clamping and hole forming apparatus which is designed to securely clamp an object located therein to support the object rigidly during a hole punching operation in the object, thus preventing mislocation of the holes and supporting the periphery of the object to eliminate distortion resulting from the punching operation.

The illustrated apparatus of Figs. 1 and 2 for example, incorporates an arrangement of the clamping means in an upper horizontal group at the top of the frame designated as the first gang, and a second horizontal group designated as the second gang, 32xand 34 respectively. Such arrangement has been found particularly suited to the construction of the U-shaped main frame of a chaise longue, the cross-arm of the U being designated at 28 in Fig. 2.

After the tube has been bentinto a U, the opposite then optionally straight side legs, one of which is shown in phantom outline in Fig. 2, may be positioned in the upper gang 32 of the clamping means, said clamping means being then in full open position to accommodate such legs, and the opposite leg of the U may be simultaneously and correspondingly positioned within the lower gang 34 of the clamping means. Uponclosing of the clamping means, both side rails or tubes of the U are then simultaneously bent to correspondgto the curvature of the frame as shown in Figure 2, and, upon final closure of the clamping means around the tubing side rails, said rails may be perforated by means of punctures incorporated in said clamping means.

The clamping and punching means illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6 is replaceable in the apparatus of'Figs. 1 and 2 with the form of clamping and punching means illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4.

Having more particular reference to Figs. 5 and 6, a housing is provided with a bore 151 adapted to move a clamp element 152 reciprocally therein for the purpose of releasably clamping such tube 28 heretofore described. For such purposes the element 152 carries an arcuate clamping end 153 complementary to an arcuate clamping member 154 immovably held in the housing 150 as by a set screw 155 which extends into a cam bottomed block 156, by means of which the clamping member 154 may be adjustably positioned relative to the housing and against a locking collar 157 threaded into the lefthand endof the housing, as illustrated in Fig. 5, and there retained by a set screw 158. The coaction of the slanted bottom of the block 156, the set screw 155, and the locking collar 157 securely retains the clamping member 154 within the housing.

The clamp element 152 has a bore 160 in which a cylindrical punch 161 having a preferably flat punching end 162 is reciprocally movable by means of a nut 163, or the like, by which the punch 161 is carried and which is itself slidable within the bore 160.

Said nut 163 is threadably secured to a plunger rod 164 carried by a plunger 165 reciprocally mounted in a counterbore 166 in the housing.

The bore 151 and counterbore 166 are separated by an annular partition 167. O-rings 168 and 169 respectively carried by the partition 167 prevent the passage of fluid,

from the bore 151 to the bore 166, while permitting reciprocating motion of the plunger rod 164 through said partition 167 which is secured within the bore 166 against a shoulder 170 as by means of a split ring 171, which is snap-fit into an annular recess 172.

The bore 166 is capped at its outer end as by a threaded nut 173, likewise carrying an O-ring 174. Similar rings are provided at 175 and 176 between the housing and clamp element 152, and said clamp element and the plunger rod 164, to permit slidable, fluid-tight movement.

Fluid ports 57 and 61 correspond respectively to the lines 57 and 61, to which they are attached. The port 57 intercommunicates with a passageway 180 having branches 181 and 182 communicating respectively with the counterbore 166 and bore 151. Said bore 180 is capped at 184, and a similar plug is provided at 185 for the bore 182.

Whereas, the port 181 leading from the fluid supply conduit 57 enters the counterbore 166 back of the plunger 165, the port corresponding to the fluid conduit 61 enters said counterbore 166 ahead of said plunger 165.

As fluid pressure by manipulation of the valve 114 is directed through the passageways 181 and 182 through the port 57, the clamp element 152 moves as a plunger within the bore 151 to the left, as illustrated in Fig. 5, and the plunger 165 is moved to the left, but with greater force due to the difierential areas of the clamp element 152 and the plunger 165 exposed to the fluid pressure.

Accordingly, the tube 28 is first clamped by the clamp element 152, while at or about the same time the punch 161 is brought to bear against the tubing by leftwise movement of the plunger rod 164 until the punch 161 penetrates the tubing 28 on one or both sides thereof, as desired. 'In the event the punch 161 goes entirely through the tubing 28 the punched out side walls of the tube are ejected through knockout ports 188 and 189 in the stationary clamp member 156 and the locking collar 157 respectively.

Upon manipulation of the control valve 114 to exert fluid pressure through the port 61, the plunger 1 65 is retracted, carrying with it the clamp element 152 and freeing the tubing 28.

By the instant construction the tubing 28 is efl'iciently and effectively punctured. The instant apparatus has roven especially effective in perforating aluminum tubing. The bore 160 is spaced radially from the punch 161 and consequently does not support the tubing immediately adjacent the punch. However, such immediate support has not been found necessary, the tubing being otherwise adequately supported to prevent deformation of the tube. Suflicient dimpling occurs at the right-hand side of the tubing, as pictured in Fig. to accommodate a screw head while no dimpling occurs at the left-hand side of the tubing diametrically opposite from the punch 161, due to the more adequate support given the tubing wall immediately adjacent the knockout bore 188 which is of the slot size preferably slidably accommodating the punch 161. The extent and nature of any dimple formed adjacent the opening made by the punch at the right-hand side of the tubing in Fig. 5 can be adjusted to a great extent by the nature and proximity to the intended punchout of the supporting walls of the clamp 152 adjacent the intended opening in the tubing. The clamping apparatus is replaceably secured to the bed plate 37 as by bolts 190.

Although I have herein shown and described my invention in what I have conceived to be the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is recognized that departures may be made therefrom within the scope of my invention, which is not to be limited to the details disclosed herein, out is to be accorded the full scope of the claim so as to embrace any and all equivalent structures, means and methods.

I claim as my invention:

In an apparatus for simultaneously bending, clamping and punching both legs of a generally U-shaped tubular body, a supporting frame, means on said frame defining vertically stacked, generally horizontal elongated supporting members, each of said members having angularly related horizontal end portions and the angularly related portions of each of said members being vertically aligned with the corresponding portion of the other of said members, a plurality of individual double-acting reciprocating fluid motors slidably mounted on each portion of said elongated supporting members for adjustment longitudinally thereof, a clamping member associated with each motor and fixed relatively thereto, an apertured movable clamping member for cooperation with each fixed clamping member and mounted for movement toward and away from the respective fixed clamping member, means connecting each of said movable clamping members to its respective motor for actuation thereby, a punch connected to each of said motors for extension thereby through the corresponding apertured clamping members, said fixed and movable clamping members respectively having opposed concavities therein conforming to the cross-sectional contour of the tubular body, each of the motors and its associated clamping means and punches being adjustable as a unit and all such motors on each end portion being operable in parallel directions perpendicular to the common vertical planes of the body legs, and means for simultaneously directing pressure fluid to either side of all of said motors, each of the movable clamping members being separable from its associated fixed clamping members sufiiciently to accommodate the entry of a substantially straight leg between all of said clamping members carried by one of said frame members, whereby a single stroke of each motor first deforms the body into conformity with the angularly related frame end portions, then clamps said deformed body and then punches a hole therein.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 814,200 Gibson Mar. 6, 1906 1,358,328 Reznor Nov. 9, 1920 1,746,043 Maguire Feb. 4, 1930 2,064,539 Hart Dec. 15, 1936 2,112,153 Gorham Mar. 22, 1938 2,118,648 Johnson May 24, 1938 2,231,638 Rigdon Feb. 11, 1941 2,353,488 Mueller July 11, 1944 

